City of Sydney councillors have unanimously called on the NSW government to repeal anti-protest laws passed by NSW Parliament in April this year.  

The new laws, passed with support from both the Coalition and Labor parties, ban protests on a wide range of infrastructure including major roads, bridges, tunnels, public transport and infrastructure facilities.They were passed in response to climate protests that disrupted traffic. Despite both major parties supporting the laws in the parliament, CCL applauds Labor Councillor Linda Scott and two Liberal councillors Lyndon Gannan and Shauna Jarrett who voted to support this motion. 

NSW Council for Civil Liberties is part of a large coalition of civil, human and environmental rights campaigning for the repeal of the laws. President Josh Pallas said CCL was heartened to see the City of Sydney Council taking a unanimous strong position in favour of the right to protest and standing with climate protestors.

The City of Sydney has historically been the site of significant protest action and this motion reaffirms the Council’s support to ensure that this continues.  NSWCCL was pleased to see Councillor Scott from the Labor Party speak strongly in favour of the motion and we call on whoever forms government next year to reconsider the recent anti-protest laws. 

Read more here.